Decorative article and method of producing same



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DECORATIVE ARTICLE AND METHOD OF PRODUCING SAME Filed Oct. 2, 1935 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 v INVENTOR Patented Oct. 6, 1936 ATENT OFFICE DECORATIVE ARTICLEV AND llIlETHOD OF PRODUCING SAME William R. Baur, Philadelphia, Pa.

Application october 2, 1935, serial No. 43,168

5 Claims.

This inventon relates to the decorative art and more particularly to method of manufacture, and resulting article simulating forms of vegetation, such as foliage, flowers or the like. rIn its present embodiment the invention is particularly useful in connection with decoration of show cases, shop Windows and other displays where foods are exhibited.

Various forms of artificial foliage have been proposed, and some used, for similar purposes, but certain difficulties have been observed as to manufacture and use. For example, certain devices of the prior art, otherwise useful, have not been readily adapted to simplified production or to a range of sizes and configurations to comply with the varied requirements in use.

This invention provides a facile method of manufacture which is simple and economical, while at the same time resulting in an article of varied usefulness and adaptation as to both size and shape. The decorative foliage exemplifying the present embodiment of the invention is in the form of strips which are easily cut to suitable length, may be readily bent in one direction, retain sumcient rigidity in the other direction for maintaining the desired position of display, and provide means, where desirable, for readily attaching component units together, as well as for yholding individual or component units in the de sired position of display.

Other advantages and objects of the invention will be understood from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, in which Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention bent in right angle form for a corner display,

Fig. 2 is a plan view illustrating the manner in which the sheet material is cut out to form a component part of the article,

Fig. 3 is an enlarged side elevation of a portion of Fig. 1 to more clearly illustrate certain details,

Fig. 4 is a transverse vertical section at 4--4 of Fig. 3,

Fig. 5 is a transverse longitudinal section at 5 5 of Fig. 3, K

Figs. 6, '1, 8, 9 and 10 show various adaptations and modifications of the invention.

Referring more particularly to Fig. 1: the device there illustrated comprises a longitudinallyV extending core member I which in this embodiment takes the form of a sheet metal strip of bent in a horizontal or transverse direction and having a. sucient Width extending in a vertical direction to resist bending in an upward and downward direction. Around this core I is folded a pliable sheet material 2 which is formed* and positioned in a manner to be more particularly pointed out following: and after the said sheet material has been formed and positioned in place, it is clamped and held in position by means of a plurality of clamps such as 3 which it is to be noted are spaced longitudinally of said core I in order to permit ready bending of the article in a transverse direction such as that illustrated in Fig. 1.

In the present embodiment of the invention the pliable sheet material 2 is a thin sheet of rubber. The sheet material is cut, or otherwise suitably formed, with configurations or serrations such as Il (Fig. 2) on its opposite marginal edges, such configurations simulating foliage or the like; and the intermediate zone 5 of the strip is of ysufficient width to give the desired height to the foliage. The sheet material strips are preferably ycut in suitable lengths to facilitate handling, and where extremely long lengths of the decorative article are desired a plurality of such strips may be used in conjunction with a continuous strip core I.

The core is suitably supported, as for example in two spaced-apart blocks having saw cuts in their upper ends into which the core I is seated. The sheet strip is then disposed in lengthwise relation thereto, by placing it over said core with its axis lying along the upper edge of the core. The sheet material is then folded, bunched or puckered lengthwise of the core progressively of its length to provide folds or pleats 6 (Figs. 3 and 5) extending transversely of the'core, and the pleated sheet is then folded crosswise of its length and progressively of its length, so that the pleats lie against the opposite sides of the core I in the position illustrated in Fig. 5, in which position the figured or serrated edges project a substantial distance above the core I and by the pleated condition of the panel or `zzo-ne 5 are held in pleasing bunched formation.

The portions thus progressively pleated and folded are successively clamped in assembled relation by means of the individual clips 3, which are preferably of U formation with outwardly flaring lips with a throat opening slightly less than the combined thickness across the pleats and core. The'clips are also preferably made of a material suniciently stiff to assume their frictional clamping action when once placed in position. When so made the clips are forced over lready attachment to the other end of the same i istering holes.

the folded and pleated sheet, which is permitted by the flexibility of the jaws of the clips, and when in active position serve to firmly frictionally clamp the parts together as illustrated in Figs. 3, 4 and 5.

These clips are of such dimension and are so spaced as not to interfere with ready bending of the decorative article in a lateral direction, which is otherwise permitted by the pliable nature of the sheet material 2 and the lateral flexibility of the core l. Furthermore, these clips serve as a means of further supporting the bunched upper edges of the sheet material 2 and enhance the rigidity in an upward and downward direction.

From the foregoing it will be appreciated that the decorative article thus made is adapted to be made in any length desired and suitable lengths may be cut therefrom as the occasion and demand arises for definite lengths to be used for specic decorative purposes. When the articles are made to the desired length at the outset, the ends of the core I are preferably extended beyond the sheet material 2, as illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, and likewise when the article is initially made in longer strips and is later cut to the desiredlength, the sheet material is removed at each end to permit the core ends to extend beyond the body of the article as previously' described. Such provision permits ready attachment or support of the articles as will be more apparent from the following description of such uses.

Referring more particularly to Figs. 3, 6 and 8: it will be seen that the projecting end of the core I is provided with a hole 'I permitting a means of strip when the strip is bent around an article or shaped through bending to conform to a circle, square or the like; the ends thus abutting being secured by va pin or bolt passing through the reg- Furthermore, the core I may be bent laterally as indicated in Fig. 6 to support the article in upright position and in this connection the end of one unitary article may be bolted to the adjacent end of another unitary article, illustrated in Fig. 6 in dotted position and whose core end is designated as I. This provision serves the dual purpose of attaching together a plurality of articles of relatively short length while at the same time serving to support them in upright position. It will be further understood that transversely extending legs of the character thus provided are particularly desirable in instances where the articles are displayed on grids or the like through which they might otherwise fall.

In Fig. 8 a further use of the projecting end of the core is illustrated wherein the end is bent in hook formation for the purpose of engaging a corresponding hook on the end of the same or another unitary article. This hook formation is also useful in supporting the article against tilting from its upright position in one o-r the other of two directions.

Fig. 7 shows a modification in which two core members Ia and Ih are utilized instead of a single core member and where the core members are spaced apart one above the other. This modification is particularly useful where it is desired to make a display having an increased height from the base to the upper marginal edges, while at the same time permitting a suiflcient degree of flexibility to bend in a lateral direction. In this embodiment, the thickness or gauge of the core members la and lb is preferably made thinner than in the previous embodiment where only one core member is utilized, so that the lateral bending will not be made too difficult. In this embodiment the clips such as 3a, are of suicient height to pass above the uppermost core member Ia and the clips are preferably provided with an inwardly projecting ridge 8 serving to clamp the pleated sheet material between the co-re members la and Ib` and to maintain the said core members in proper spaced relationship.

In the modification shown in Fig. 9 the core comprises the two members Ic and Id in side by side relationship and the ends of the core members Ic and Id are shown bent in opposite directions laterally of the article so as to furnish legs forl supporting the same. In this embodiment the core members Ic and Id are preferably made of material substantially thinner than that in the embodiment illustrated in figures such as 6 and 8.

In Fig. 10 there is shown a further modification wherein the core member Ie is in the form of a roundwire and clips such as 3b are formed so as to clamp the sheet material 2 to the core with the clips 3b extending upwardly a sufficient distance to support Vthe sheet material 2 in vertical position and hold the same in the desired bunched relationship. The end of the core Ie extends outwardly beyond the sheet material 2 and is adapted to be bent into the desired configuration for the purposes of attachment or support; and such preferred configuration being indicated in dotted lines in a manner to serve as a support to hold the article in upright position.

While in the present embodiment of the invention sheet rubber is utilized for the sheet material 2 it is within the contemplation of the invention that other suitable materials may be employed such as Cellophane, oil cloth and the like; but at the present time rubber is deemed preferable in view of its ability to withstand moisture and water when in use and its ability to be washed without appreciable deterioration.

The core members such as I and Ia-Ie, inclusive, are preferably made of a metal such as galvanized iron or brass or the like which permit ready bending and which will tend to stay inthe position in which it is bent; but it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other suitable materials may be used, depending upon the manufacturing choice and particular uses to which the articles are to be put. Likewise, the clips 3, while preferably made of resilient material such as spring steel, have been found to be satisfactory when made of galvanized iron. In the use of spring steel clips the manufacture is facilitated because of the rapidity with which the clips may be inserted in position and remain due to the resilience of the material; while in the use of less resilient material such as galvanized iron it has been found desirable to compress the clips after they are placed in position and this extra step is therefore less desirable from a manufacturing standpoint. Furthermore, while the preferred form of attachment of the sheet material to the core and the holding of the same in will be obvious to those skilled in the art', after understanding my invention, that other changes and modifications may be made therein without departing from the spirit and scope of my invention, and I aim in the appended claims to cover such changes and modifications as are Within the scope of the invention.

What I claim is:

1. An article of the character described comprising longitudinally extending core means readily bendable in a horizontal direction and relatively rigid in a vertical direction, sheet material having serrated marginal edges and an intermediate zone pleated longitudinally of said core and folded transversely around said core so that said opposite serrated edges provide a decorative effect along the top edge of said article, and means comprising a plurality of elements spaced longitudinally of said article and serving to hold said sheet material in integral position on said core while permitting said article to be readily bent in a horizontal direction.

2. An article of the character described comprising longitudinally extending core means readily bendable in a horizontal direction and relatively rigid in a vertical direction, sheet material having serrated marginal edges and an intermediate zone pleated longitudinally of said core and 4folded transversely around said core so that said opposite serrated edges provide a decorative effect along the top edge of said article, and means for holding said sheet material in pleated and folded position on said core means, said core means projecting longitudinally beyond said sheet material and providing means for holdin g said article in desired position.

3. An article of the character described comprising longitudinally extending core means readily bendable in a horizontal direction, sheet material having serrated marginal edges and an intermediate zone pleated longitudinally of said core and folded transversely around said core so that said opposite serrated edges provide a decorative effect along the top edge of said article, and a plurality of U clips spaced longitudinally of said article and serving to clamp portions of said material in pleated and folded position on said core means, said core means projecting longitudinally beyond said sheet material and providing means for holding said article in desired position.

4. An article of the character described comprising a longitudinally extending sheet metal core disposed on edge and of such thickness and width as to provide stiffness in a vertical direction and permit ready bending in a horizontal direction, a longitudinally extending strip of pliable sheet material having a zone intermediate its opposite marginal extremities folded transversely around the lower edge of said core and bunched longitudinally thereof with said opposite marginal extremities extending a substantial distance above the upper edge of said core and provided with serrations, and means readily bendable in a horizontal direction and serving to attach said sheetmaterial to said core.

5. The method of forming an article of the character described which comprises supporting a longitudinal core member, disposing a strip of pliable material in lengthwise relation thereto with its longitudinal line of fold lying adjacent said core, progressively forming a series of pleats in said material with the pleats disposed transverse the said core, progressively folding the pleated strip crossvvise about said core and successively frictionally clamping said pleats and folds in position on said core at spaced intervals lengthwise of said article in the order in Whichthey are progressively formed.

WILLIAM R. BAUR. 

